Military Service and Veteran Status

[ScottDLS]

Veteran status is good for 10% off at Lowe's, Home Depot and quite a few other places. I've even gotten a nice discount at furniture stores, O'Reilly auto supply, and other places just by mentioning it.

Yes, I got it added to my DL for that reason...though I feel a little guilty since I wasn't in combat (unless you count dodging the crack dealers in Norfolk in the late '80's).

There is no occasion for guilt. I've been in the brotherhood, and these days sisterhood of sorts, of veterans since I enlisted in 1963. Except for certain medals and awards, I've never been aware of any distinction in status or treatment. We respect each other no matter, as long as it was honorable service. Whether you end up in combat is essentially random, a function of when you are in, what service you happened to pick, and the roll of the dice of fate. We were all exposed to the possibility, except the sisterhood of course.

There are Navy SEALS who have never been in combat. They've been in harm's way, but never shot at, or fired their weapon in anger. They may have been present in combat zones, participated in highly dangerous ops, but seen no action as most people think of that term. I believe my brother-in-law, a VN era SEAL who retired as a CAPT (O-6) is in that category. They snuck around at night, gathering Intel, avoided contact, spreading confusion and despair. He told me if they had to use their weapons, it meant that something had gone really, really wrong. That's not how he phrased it, but you know.

When I graduated from college and got my commission, I was ordered to shore duty in Coronado, CA, right in the middle of VN. Who knows why? My most dangerous duty was riding the Coronado Ferry and buying drinks for nurses. I never left CONUS. You just never know.

Thanks. Proud of my service, just never want to exaggerate my role. Nice that Texas gives a discount on the CHL. I'll take it since I don't yet qualify for the senior discount.

[JALLEN]

Not to mention, you earned the thanks of a grateful nation, which the officer will acknowledge when he hands your widow the flag from your coffin. You can be proud of that!